Disclaimer: I do not own Harvest Moon or its characters. This story was only written for entertainment purposes.
Save Me From Myself
Chapter Ten
The room was filled with the scent of baked goods, the sound of feminine laughter, and the slowly diminishing smell of blooming summer flowers. Gwen and Abigail sat together, quietly chattering, while Ellen placed a new plate of freshly baked goodies on the table they were seated at. The bubbly brunette sat and pulled at the local wedding magazines before the three females.
"Tomorrow, we should go into town and pick out a dress for you and bridesmaid dresses for Abigail and myself. I asked my dad for the day off." Gwen chimed in, refusing Ellen's offer for a sweet.
Ellen nodded, enthusiastically. "That will work for me perfectly. Abigail?"
She nodded as well. "Sure, no problem with me. I just have to water my crops and feed my chicken before we go. I've never been to town before."
Gwen gasped. "Really? Never? You're going to love it, Abby. It's almost three or four times the size of Flower Bud. So many more shops and people to meet. It can be a little intimidating at first, though."
Ellen giggled. "Oh, I'm sure Abigail can handle it! She was a city girl after all."
"Keyword being was." Gwen pointed out.
They two village girls continued their giggles, while Abigail rolled her eyes at the two girls. "Okay, okay, enough before you two faint on me because of the giggle fits."
Ellen was the first to return to earth and she cleared her throat. "I'm sorry, Abigail. But on to a new topic, I didn't see you at the Fireworks festival this year. How come?"
"Yeah, I noticed Jamie wasn't there either." Gwen added, a sly smile on her face.
"I- I was busy." She answer, only receiving a collective unconvinced look from both girls. She shot them a frown. "I was busy, for your information. I was up in the mountains and lost track of time, I watched the fireworks from the bridge up there."
"Really..." Gwen toyed with a baked good nearby. "And, who else was with you?"
A blush tainted her cheeks before she had a chance to will it away. "No one. I was completely alone. And it was sad and depressing."
Gwen gave an imitated pout. "How sad. Jamie and you seemed like you were both getting along pretty well at the party."
Ellen nodded. "You noticed too!"
Abigail shook her head and waved her hands in the air. "No. No! We're just friends!"
"Denial~!" Gwen sang out. She smirked and bite into the baked cookie in her hand. "Denial," she spoke while chewing the sweet, "is the first step to acceptance, my dear. I'm so proud of you for willing to admit."
Ellen and Gwen broke out into a fit of laughter. Abigail, however, shook her head and threw each girl a glare before biting into her own sweet.
Abigail felt like she was in a fog, a warm and pleasant, fuzzy feeling kind of fog. She couldn't see what was in front of her, nor behind or on either side, but she knew she was in some sort of room. But what kind of room would be filled with fog? Pink fog at that!
She shook her head, hoping for some clarity, and jumped at the feeling of a light hand on her shoulder. With a quick swivel of her head, she came face-to-face with a ruby eyed, blond haired, smiling face. She blinked and said face came into a clearer view. It was Gwen.
"Gwen? What are you doing here?"
Gwen laughed. "What are you talking about? I'm here to help you get ready, silly!" She tsked and took a hold of Abigail's wrist. "Look at you, still dressed in your everyday clothes! We don't have time for this, Abby. You're going to be late!"
'Late?' Abigail stumbled to keep up with the blond. "Late for what?"
She was met with another laugh. "Oh, man, Abby. You're nerves must be taking their toll on you. Don't worry, Ellen said it was normal to feel like that."
'What?'
Abigail shook her head. Nothing was making sense. She briefly closed her eyes and opened them to find herself in a new room. She was standing in front of a full body mirror, her reflection staring back at her... dressed in a white gown. Her breath hitched when she realized she was in a wedding dress and it was beautiful.
A bit tight on the bust area, but gorgeous none the less. It was a strapless, beaded, shimmery material, princess styled dress, completed with elbow length silk gloves. "I look like a cake topping."
Gwen appeared out of thin air and laughed. "You do not! You look beautiful and I bet the groom would completely agree."
Her head snapped towards the blond. "Who is my groom?"
With a perplexed look, Gwen gave a short and nervous laugh. "Stop kidding around, Abby, you're starting to scare me." Abigail wanted to speak again, but was dismissed by Gwen. "Okay, no more playing around. We're going to be late! I still have to fix your hair and do your make-up."
'This can't be happening,' she thought, tightly closing her eyes while she felt Gwen move around her. She felt herself being guided to a chair and suddenly her ears roared with the sound of whispers and laughter.
Upon opening her eyes, she found herself standing before two large oak doors. She stiffened and glanced around. She was alone, still dressed in the wedding dress, a veil disrupting her view and a bouquet of blue mist flowers in her grasp.
Theodore, much like Gwen had before, appeared out of thin air and outstretched his arm towards her. "Are you ready, dear?"
She wanted to shake her head, scream no, but instead, she placed her gloved hand onto his arm. The doors opened as soon as they made contact. A blinding light momentarily blinded her, causing her free hand to rise to shield her from the light. It was a small church that came into view, with all the pews filled with the towns people of Flower Bud Village.
Then a new sound filled her ears.
The bridal march began.
She felt her body betray her as it moved along with the music, Theodore following right beside her. As she walked down the isle, her eyes drifted from face to face. They all looked so happy, for her. Her stomach tightened as they neared the end of their walk. She quickly looked for her groom, but the upper half of his body was hidden by an arch of flowers.
Cruel fate, denying her a chance to see her soon-to-be husband, until she stood next to him. But even then, Theodore seemed to prolong the unbearable anxiety. The mayor smiled at her, placing a father-like kiss on her hand, and lifted the veil from her face.
The march was nearly reaching its end and it was only then that Theodore pulled away. She gaze the husky man and smiled at him before facing forward. Her heart seemed to be pounding out of her chest, the grip on her flowers tightened, and she hesitated with her glance to her right.
Who ever he was, he seemed to be staring at her. And even though she hadn't made eye contact with him yet, she could feel the happiness radiating off of him. It was intoxicating. Her eyes leveled with his face and she could only gasp.
Abigail gasped and abruptly sat up.
Her head swung from side to side, but all that she was met with was the darkness and emptiness she had gone to sleep with. Her heart rung loudly in her ears and her fists clutched painfully tight against the sheets. "Oh, Goddess, I just dreamed I was marrying... Jamie."